The curtain lifted.
The light hit like a slap. Blinding. Blazing. A thousand camera flashes stung the air like sparks. For a second, Haru couldn't see the audience — only feel them. A wall of sound rising, crashing, rising again.
This was it.
Their debut stage.
Their beginning.
The music began — low synths rippling like waves through the floor, bass pulsing in his chest. Haru didn't move yet. None of them did. Eclipse stood in formation, still as shadows in the blue haze.
Then on beat four — ignite.
They moved as one.
Minhee's arms sliced clean through the air. Riki's footwork snapped with brutal precision. Shiro spun into place, cocky grin catching the spotlight. Seojun's voice cut through the instrumental with sharp clarity.
And Haru?
Haru opened his mouth—
And let the fire out.
His voice wasn't just strong — it was alive. Raspy at the edges. Controlled in the center. It cracked once, not from fear, but from too much feeling. The sound of someone burning from the inside.
The choreography swirled around him, but his focus never wavered. He didn't see the cameras. He didn't see the staff. Just flashes of light, heat from the stage lamps, and the pounding in his own skull.
Midway through the second chorus, he turned for his high note. This was the part that used to scare him.
But he wasn't scared anymore.
The note soared — and didn't break.
The crowd screamed. Not just cheered — screamed.
He glanced to the third row for half a second.
And froze.
A girl stood there.
Short black hair. A red scarf. A camera to her face.
Still.
Unmoving.
Watching only him.
His chest squeezed — not from fear, but something deeper. A memory he didn't have. A recognition without a name.
Then the lights shifted, and she was gone.
He blinked. Refocused.
Minju's voice whispered by his ear like a breeze through cracked glass.
"You're doing it, Haru. They see you now."
He sang the bridge softer than usual. Not for show — for himself. His voice was raw silk. Fraying slightly. Real.
When they hit the final formation — five of them back to back, arms raised like they were reaching for the stars — the beat cut out. The lights went out.
Silence.
Then—
Boom.
The crowd erupted.
Chants. Applause. Cheers crashing into each other. A tidal wave of voices shouting their names.
Seojun looked over, eyes wide. He didn't say anything — just nodded once.
Shiro clapped him hard on the back, laughing breathlessly.
Minhee raised both arms like they'd just won a war.
Riki looked stunned. Like he couldn't believe what just happened.
And Haru?
He stood still for one last moment.
Breathing.
Alive.
He looked up toward the rafters.
Minju was there. Floating high, hand over her mouth, eyes shining.
"You didn't hold back," she whispered."You lit the match."